1976 Election Cycle

The 1976 cycle was the first following the Minnesota Republican Party changing its name to the Independent-Republican Party in November 1975. With native son U.S. Senator Walter Mondale as his running mate, Jimmy Carter carried Minnesota by a dozen points over President Gerald Ford in the beginning of what would eventually become a record run of victories outside of the South for Democratic presidential nominees.

DFLer Hubert Humphrey won a fifth nonconsecutive term by 42 points – the most lopsided U.S. Senate election in Minnesota history. Humphrey passed away in January 1978 and widow Muriel Humphrey was appointed to the seat.

Each party retained its respective U.S. House seats – five for the DFL, three for the Independent-Republicans.

The DFL emerged from the 1976 election holding 48 of 66 seats in the state Senate and 104 of 134 in the state House.

Chief Justice Robert Sheran and Associate Justice Walter Rogoscheske each won reelection to the Supreme Court without opposition.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/02/1976 State House, District 56B General Tom Berg (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 8,526 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Tom Berg Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 8,526 100.00
11/02/1976 State House, District 56A General James R. Casserly (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 4,916 votes (81.84%) and a winning margin of +63.68
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
James R. Casserly Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 4,916 81.84
Gail J. Douglass Woman Independent-Republican 1,091 18.16
11/02/1976 State House, District 55B General John J. Sarna (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 9,975 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John J. Sarna Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 9,975 100.00
11/02/1976 State House, District 55A General Stanley J. Fudro (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 9,287 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Stanley J. Fudro Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 9,287 100.00
11/02/1976 State House, District 57A General Phyllis Kahn (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 9,214 votes (79.21%) and a winning margin of +58.43
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Phyllis Kahn Incumbent Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 9,214 79.21
Dennis Hogan Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 2,418 20.79